Chapter 91
Chapter 91
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 91
Chapter Title: The Thousand Illusions Wanderer
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In truth, Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo had already sensed the demonic energy emanating from Cho-seon and Aeng-a, discerning that they were from the Mysterious Jade Palace.
In any case, she didn't particularly mind Cho-seon and Aeng-a's effusive compliments about her beauty.
An amusing thought crossed my mind: Cho-seon had gathered information about the Martial Alliance's Lord for me, yet she failed to recognize the very person sitting right in front of her.
"Cho-seon, you can tell me now."
"Alright!"
Cho-seon stuck out her tongue playfully before speaking.
"First, it's about the Blood Crow Saber."
As I lifted my teacup, Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo followed suit.
"I brought the Blood Crow Saber, the one you asked me to find, here."
"To Dong-ro County, you mean?"
"Yes."
I hadn't expected Cho-seon to bring the Blood Crow Saber to Dong-ro County.
"After finding the village where he was living in seclusion, I ordered my people to spread rumors about the Fire Dragon Sword."
"Oh? And then?"
"And just like that, the Blood Crow Saber broke his seclusion and came to Dong-ro County on his own. So, it's as good as me bringing him here, right?"
"Did he come to challenge me?"
"I saw him submitting an application to join the Dong-ro Branch this morning."
Applying to the Dong-ro Branch was the fastest way to fight me.
Of course, he probably didn't entertain the thought of losing, just like most of the masters I had fought.
To break a long seclusion just for a chance to fight the Fire Dragon Sword, whose name was shaking the world, and even be willing to become a mere branch member—the Blood Crow Saber was truly a warrior, a man of the martial path.
Cho-seon grinned bashfully.
"I did well, didn't I?"
"You did."
I had planned to seek him out once I found his whereabouts, but thanks to Cho-seon, things had become much easier.
My business concluded, I stood up, and Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo rose with me.
"Are you leaving?"
I didn't answer and walked toward the entrance, but Cho-seon remained seated, making no move to stop me.
"I have one more thing to tell you. Aren't you curious?"
When I paused, Cho-seon became even more leisurely.
"If you want to hear it, come back and sit down."
I had asked Cho-seon to look into three things: the whereabouts of the Alliance Lord, the Blood Crow Saber, and matters concerning the Eternal Martial God Family.
The last one was the Eternal Martial God Family, and Cho-seon was brazenly telling me to either leave or sit back down if I wanted to listen.
Seeing Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo and me return to our seats, Cho-seon stomped her feet and clapped her hands in delight.
"Ahahaha! You asked me to look into the Eternal Martial God Family, right?"
"Did you find anything?"
Cho-seon was bursting with pride.
"Of course."
"Tell me."
Cho-seon glanced at Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo.
"Is it alright for your little sister to hear this?"
Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo stood up.
"I'll step out for a moment."
"Sit. It's fine."
According to Sang Gang-jo, the place that had offered to fund the Martial Alliance was the Chungmu Estate.
Jang Ung had said the Chungmu Estate was the Eternal Martial God Family and that they owned the Nine Provinces Heavenly Sect, one of the three great merchant guilds in the world.
If that was the case, Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo was not unrelated to the Eternal Martial God Family, so it should be fine for her to listen.
Cho-seon spoke without delay.
"The predecessor of the Eternal Martial God Family is the Yue Family of Shandong."
'The Yue Family of Shandong!'
I had heard of the Yue Family of Shandong. If even I knew of them, they had to be a very famous family. But I never imagined they were the predecessors of the Eternal Martial God Family.
The founder of the Yue Family of Shandong was Yue Fei, the Sacred Emperor Yue, who, along with Guan Yu, was revered as one of the two great gods of war in the Central Plains.
Unlike Guan Yu, whose line had ended, Yue Fei's descendants founded the Yue Family in Shandong. For hundreds of years thereafter, the Yue Family of Shandong led the martial world as the head of the Five Great Martial Families.
I looked at Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo.
"Did you know?"
"I didn't."
Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo said calmly.
"The Yue Family of Shandong was annihilated over three hundred and fifty years ago."
I asked Cho-seon.
"So the annihilated Yue Family of Shandong was revived as the Eternal Martial God Family?"
"We don't know the specific circumstances. We only find places and people."
"Continue."
Cho-seon spoke again.
"The Eternal Martial God Family owns the Nine Provinces Heavenly Sect, one of the three great merchant guilds. The family head from two generations ago was enfeoffed as the Martial King of Yong by Emperor Yongle and was granted a fiefdom of over two hundred li in every direction around Ruanzhou in Anhui Province."
"So the Eternal Martial God Family is in Ruanzhou, Anhui Province?"
"That I don't know."
"Is the Eternal Martial God Family active?"
"They're active through the Nine Provinces Heavenly Sect, aren't they?"
"Is there nothing else?"
"That's all."
In conclusion, the Eternal Martial God Family wasn't a particularly interesting subject to me.
Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo said to Cho-seon.
"Could you look into the Yue Family of Shandong in more detail?"
Cho-seon looked at me.
"Should I?"
"Do it."
"Understood."
Cho-seon only acts on my command.
***
Jang Ung sent word for me to stop by the Peerless Sect.
The Peerless Sect was still located behind the Peerless Pavilion tavern.
Behind the tavern was a cozy garden, and within a fairly spacious wall, five single-story and two-story buildings were arranged in a semicircle.
As we crossed the garden, I explained to Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo.
"This is the Peerless Sect. I'm the Sect Leader."
"Oh, really?"
"There are only eighteen of us in total, including me, Un-hyo, Ja-un, and Jang Ung."
"So they're your direct subordinates, Brother Yong."
"Something like that."
When we went up to the second floor of the main building we used for the Peerless Sect, Jang Ung greeted us politely and respectfully handed a booklet to Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo.
"These are the blueprints and bird's-eye view of the main headquarters. Please take a look."
"Thank you."
"What is it?"
Aside from a faint smile when he was pleased or happy, Jang Ung always wore a composed expression.
"A Vice Island Master of the Four Seas Way is on his way to Dong-ro County."
"A Vice Island Master?"
"The Four Seas Way's command structure consists of one Great Island Master, eight Vice Island Masters, and twenty-four Sub-Island Masters."
I'd never been interested in the Four Seas Way, so this was all new information to me.
"This Vice Island Master is coming because I dismantled the Yangtze River Fortress and the Eighteen Fortresses of Qiantang, I assume?"
"That is most likely the case."
"How many of them?"
"About twenty."
With that number, they weren't coming to fight.
"So they're coming to meet me."
"It seems so."
"When will they arrive?"
"Barring any issues, they should arrive this evening."
Jang Ung asked.
"What are your orders?"
"Hmm."
"If it's a bother, we can give them a burial at sea in the Qiantang River."
It seemed the Vice Island Master was coming by boat.
"Let them be."
"Understood."
I wasn't curious about what kind of person this Vice Island Master was. If he caused a fuss and tried to argue about me dismantling the fortresses, I'd just kill him. Still, I was curious about what he had to say.
A Vice Island Master of the Four Seas Way, an organization of outlaws, river pirates, sea pirates, and mountain bandits, would be the worst of the worst.
Killing one man like that would let thousands of good people sleep soundly.
Jang Ung said something unexpected.
"The ship you requested is nearly complete. Would you like to see it?"
"Already?"
It had only been a little over ten days since I asked for a ship, and it was already almost finished.
"A shipyard I know well happened to be building a ship of a similar size, so I purchased it. I then gave them the design you provided and requested they follow it exactly. I received word today that it will be completed by the end of the day."
I had been captivated by the allure of ships after sailing on Heuk-wol's, but I never expected to have my own so quickly.
"Let's go see it later."
"As you wish."
"Anything else?"
"There are two other matters to report."
Jang Ung was not one for idle chatter.
"What are they?"
"Heuk-wol has asked to join the Crouching Dragon Group as a subordinate. He requested I ask for your permission."
"What did Ja-un say?"
"He said he would be glad if you permit it. Ja-un is very dedicated to growing the Crouching Dragon Group."
"What are your thoughts?"
"I believe Heuk-wol can be trusted, so I think it is a good idea."
For Jang Ung to say this meant his investigation and vetting of Heuk-wol were complete.
"Heuk-wol's merchant guild is the Fire Dragon Group, right?"
"That is correct."
He had named it the Fire Dragon Group after my title, the Fire Dragon Sword.
"Accept him."
"Understood."
"And the other thing?"
"I have information that the Demonic Emperor's Grand Union has officially issued a Ledger of Life and Death for you."
I waved my hand dismissively.
"I see."
A Ledger of Life and Death, or whatever else—I welcomed any attack.
Jang Ung's true value was brilliant in many ways. If I had been completely unaware of the facts he uncovered, it would have been very troublesome. There's a big difference between knowing and not knowing.
I stood up and said.
"Chief Steward Jang, do you know of the Blood Crow Saber?"
"I only know of him as a reclusive master of the martial world."
"Cho-seon drew him out. He has now applied to join the Dong-ro Branch, so look into him."
"Understood."
***
On the way back to the Dong-ro Branch, Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo told me.
"The Thousand Illusions Wanderer uses the Three Severing Sword Arts."
I would face the Thousand Illusions Wanderer when I returned to the Dong-ro Branch.
"Do you know him?"
"I've never seen him in person, but according to the Alliance's investigation, he's from Trāyastriṃśa Castle."
I'd never heard of it.
"Is Trāyastriṃśa Castle a martial sect?"
"It seems so. Over the past fifty years, five masters have emerged in the martial world at roughly ten-year intervals, claiming to be from Trāyastriṃśa Castle. That's why they were called the Five Guests of Trāyastriṃśa Castle."
I asked Jang Ung, who was walking with us.
"Did you know about this?"
"This is the first I'm hearing of it. I know nothing about the Thousand Illusions Wanderer."
If Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo knew something even Jang Ung didn't, the Martial Alliance's intelligence-gathering capabilities were truly formidable.
"The Three Severing Sword Arts consist of three stances: Flying Star Silver Severance, Scattering Flower Slashing Severance, and Hundred-Li Flicking Severance."
The Thousand Illusions Wanderer was the last of the Five Guests to appear in the martial world, about a decade ago. He fought over twenty battles and won every single one.
Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo explained that the Martial Alliance kept a compiled record of eyewitness testimonies from those who had seen the Thousand Illusions Wanderer fight, and she relayed the contents to me.
***
It had been four days since the Thousand Illusions Wanderer defeated Do Hyeon-tak in a single move during the Dong-ro Branch's martial arts assessment.
For those four days, he had stayed at an inn provided by the branch but had not once set foot in the branch headquarters.
This was because he had been told he would be contacted once I, who had been away, returned.
I stared at the Thousand Illusions Wanderer, who stood opposite me on the dueling stage.
He wore a crisp brown robe, a scholar's headband on his forehead, and had a slender build. His face was pale and slim, and surprisingly, he looked to be in his late twenties.
His features were quite handsome, with thick eyebrows and dark eyes that didn't seem to fit his title, the Thousand Illusions Wanderer.
"My apologies for making you wait."
The Thousand Illusions Wanderer remained silent.
"If you lose, you will become a member of the Dong-ro Branch."
The Thousand Illusions Wanderer gave a slight nod.
"Once the duel begins, if you are unable to counterattack, you lose."
Again, the Thousand Illusions Wanderer only nodded.
I had never heard of him using a weapon. Do Hyeon-tak had said he was brought down by a light punch to the side in a single move.
"No weapon? Will you fight bare-handed?"
"Are you always this talkative?"
"Uh..."
I felt as if I'd been struck—no, I was shocked. I despised talkative opponents, so to hear him ask if *I* was always this talkative left me speechless.
The Thousand Illusions Wanderer was clearly a man of fewer words than I. The fight hadn't even started, and I'd already suffered a complete defeat.